Bob did not climb into that airplane expecting to die. That Corsair was in better condition than the day it was built. To think it was an "aging" airplane issue, that these were throw away fighters designed to fly and fight a small amount of hours is not remotely accurate. The Corsair had one of the longest production runs followed by yeoman service for literally decades. Odegaard's restorations were legendary. Yes, he was probably one of the most experienced Corsair pilots to walk this planet prior to the accident flight. But in spite of it's virtually flawless rebuild combined with Bob's vast piloting experience, a fatal accident ensued. It was an accident pure and simple. Could it be pilot error or mechanical failure? Could it be pilot incapacitation? Yes, it could have any one of those scenarios or any combination of all three. Only time combined with a thorough investigation will the cause be known. Why don't we wait to find out the facts before we surmise the cause of the death of an irreplaceable human being who was a father,husband, friend, pilot,mechanic, and the loss of an irreplaceable airplane. Airplanes that are flown, whether they be a Cub, Bonanza, Cessna 172 or one of only 2 Super Corsairs in the world all have an opportunity to meet an untimely demise. The only way to ensure that no airplanes crash is to make sure they don't fly. Bob knew the risks better than most. He felt airplanes are to be flown, not be static museum pieces. But every flight has an element of risk. My heart breaks for his family, friends, and the aviation community as a whole. My prayers are for them...for us.
